Epsom and Ewell

Epsom and Ewell's population expanded in the 10 years leading up to 2011. At the same time there were changes in housing tenure, religion and ethnicity.

The population passed 75,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of Epsom and Ewell increased by 12%, from almost 67,100 to 75,100.

The addition of about 8,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Epsom and Ewell was home to, on average, 16 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Rise in private renting

Census 2011 data also show a housing tenure change in Epsom and Ewell.

The percentage of households in Epsom and Ewell that rented privately increased from 8.3% in 2001 to 13% in 2011.

The proportion that lived in social housing remained close to 7.8%, while the percentage of Epsom and Ewell households that owner their home decreased from 82% to 77%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of the South East (from 10% in 2001 to 16% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Epsom and Ewell increased by 5 percentage points

Percentage of households in Epsom and Ewell, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Epsom and Ewell

The number of people in Epsom and Ewell that described themselves as having no religion increased from just over 9,900 in 2001 to just over 18,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 15% to 24% of the local population.

The percentage increased by less than the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%), but at a similar rate to the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Epsom and Ewell that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 49,000 in 2001 to just over 46,000 in 2011 (from 73% to 62%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just over 4,800 to just over 5,300. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 7.2% to 7.1%.

Just under 2,300 people (1.9%) said they were Muslim, up from about 1,300 in 2001 (3.0%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Epsom and Ewell increased by 9.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Epsom and Ewell by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Epsom and Ewell

The number of people in Epsom and Ewell from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just under 3,200 in 2001 to just under 6,500 in 2011. This represents a change from 4.7% to 8.6% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the South East (from 2.6% to 5.0%) and the average across England (from 5.2% to 8.0%).

The number of people in Epsom and Ewell from the White ethnic groups increased from about 61,000 in 2001 to about 65,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 91% to 86%. The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 1,200 to about 1,900 (from 1.8% to 2.6%).

About 1,100 people (0.9%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 620 in 2001 (1.5%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Epsom and Ewell increased by 3.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Epsom and Ewell by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Epsom and Ewell residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 6.0% to 3.4% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (86%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 74% in 2001. The percentage of Epsom and Ewell residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20% to 11%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Epsom and Ewell decreased by 2.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Epsom and Ewell, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Relationships in Epsom and Ewell

The percentage of married people fell in Epsom and Ewell at a faster rate than in nearby Kingston upon Thames.

In Epsom and Ewell, the proportion of married people decreased from 56% in 2001 to 53% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in Kingston upon Thames decreased from 46% to 46%.

Across the South East, the share of married people decreased from 53% to 49%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership in Epsom and Ewell increased from 28% to 31%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 8.4% to 9.4%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that that said they were married across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

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Area report data

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